Train-line control system



Sept.y 20, 1949. G, R PUIFOY ET AL 2,482,506

TRAIN-LINE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed June 15, 1946 ll-U ll ro N 'T Q f'. M v g kn INVENToRs Q George E Puff/Oy@ 'MH B lbrur/har J e, ATToR EY Patented Sept. 20, 1949 2,482,566 TRAIN-LINE CONTROL sYs'rEM George R. Purifoy and Robert E.Burkhart, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 15, 1946, serial No. 676,906

7 Claims.

' yOur invention relates, generally, to control systemsQand, more particularly, to train-line control systems.

Modern railway passenger cars are equipped with air conditioning vunits and other electrical apparatus which reduire a relatively large amount oi power. Furthermore, it is essential that power be available'at all times while a car is in service. One way of supplying this power is to provide an engine-driven generator for each car.

An object of our invention is to provide for maintaining power on a car in the event of failure of either the generator or the engine on that car.

Another object ofour invention is to automatically connect the apparatus on one car to the generator on an adjacent car in case of a power failure on the first car. i f

A further object of our invention is to prevent any one generator from supplying power to more than two cars .at atime.

A more general object of our invention is to provide a train-line control system which shall be simple and eilicient in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

Other objects of our invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of our invention, the load circuit for a car of a train is automatically disconnected from the generator on that car in case of failure and connected through train-line wires to the generator on an adjacent car. A generator cannot be connected to more than two cars at a time.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of our invention reference may be had to the following Vdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of :a multi-car train-line control system embodying the principal features of our invention, and

Fig. 2 is a detail diagrammatic view of the apparatus and circuits required for one car of a multi-car train.

Referringnow to the drawing, particularly to Fig. l, a train-line control system is shown for three cars, A, B and C, of a multi-car train. It will be understood that as many cars as desired may be utilized, the equipment for each car being the same as that illustrated. k

As shown in Fig. 2, three phase power is normally supplied to each car by a generator G which is driven -by an'engin'e E.' The generator G isy connected through a main switch L to the load circuit and to one side of train-line switches Si and S2. In Fig. l, the train-line switches are designated AI and A2 for car A, Bl and B2 for car B and Cl and`C2 for car C. The train-line power conductors are designated I, 2 and 3 for car A, 2l, 22 and 23 for car B and 3|, 32 and 33 for car C. The engine and the generator for car A are designated El and GI, respectively, E2 and G2 for car B, and E3 and G3 for car C.

The other side of each train-line switch is connected to a receptacle located at the end of the car. The receptacle at one end of each car is designated Rl and at the other end it is designated R2, These receptacles also contain contact members for the control circuits for controlling the operation ofthe train-line switches. The trainline receptacles may be connected on all cars of a train by jumpers J while in service.

The receptacles and jumpers are so constructed that they can be connected in only one position. However, they are symmetrical so that it does not matter which end receptacle is utilized or which end of a car is adjacent to the next car. The control power may be supplied by a battery on each car. The jumpers J contain wires P and N for the battery connections. If all of the jumpers are connected, the'system will function automatically, as described hereinafter, in case of engine or generator 'failure The connections m-ay be made manually between the cars desired at the time of a failure.

Assume that all of the train-line receptacles are connected and that the power supply on car B becomes dead while this car is connected between two live cars A and C. At the instant that the engine generator set on car B becomes dead the actuating coil of the switch L2 which is connected across one phase of the generator G2 is deenergized, thereby opening the main contact members of the switch L2 and closing its interlocking contact members. WhenV these interlocks are closed circuits are established to energize the actuating lcoils of the train-line switches Bl and B2. These two switches are so electrically interlocked that the one which closes rst will open the circuit to the coil of the other switch, thereby preventing it from closing and also determining from which live car the dead car will receive power.

Assuming that the switch BI closes first, the energizing circuit for its coil is obtained in the following manner. Starting from the negative terminal of the battery on car B, the circuit extends through an out interlock B260 on the switch B2, the coil of the switch BI, an out interlock L2d on the switch L2, a jumper wire J1 and an out interlock Alb on the switch Al to the positive terminal of the battery. The coil of the switch A2 is energized through a circuit which extends from positive through out interlocks B2b and iLZZL'a4 jumper wireJd, .the Vcoil of the switch A2 andfan out interlock Ala to negative. The generator GI on car A is now supplying power for both cars A and B.

If car C should now become dead,.in.additon to car B which is already dead, it would be impossible to supply power'to ,this ;car;-from.;the generator on car A. The coil.-of'fthe.:switchB2 cannot be energized because -an out interlock Bla on the switch BI is open. Likewise, the coil of the switch CI cannot be energized becansean out interlock Bib is also open. If this condition should occur, car C would be supplied-with power from the next connected car.

fIf the train-line v'jnmpers :hadinot been .connected, it .wouldtbe necessary :to make connectionsrbetween thecars affected. .Theseonnections canbe made atthemostconvenient end of the'dead car which isadjacenttoa livezcar.

From the 4foregoing description, it Lis apparent thatzwe have: provided:a:.traini.line.control system which .is entirely automatic when :the jumpers between carsfare in place. .If-desired, Vthesystern may bepperatedmanually by plugging in the `iumpers kbetween a Adead ucar yand a live car. Afsmallamount of equipment .is..'required andra low voltage source-of control power .is utilized. Thedanger from'handling ashighfvoltagejumper while connecting i cars iis eliminated lhecause 'the switches twhich 'establish the high voltage rconneetionsto .the receptacles cannot be.:c1osed vuntil after :the Ijumpers :are Ainstalledato fcomplete /the low nvoltage 'control circuits;

Since :numerous Vchanges :may abe Amade nin the above-*described 'construction .and different embodiments oi fthe :invention .may :be zmade vwithout-:departing from the :spiritfand scope 'thereof, itis intended #that all matter vcontained in the foregoing description ror shown vin the accompanying drawing shallbeiinterprete'd as ,illustrative and not .ina limiting sense.

'We claim as tour `invention:

:1. In YaAv train-line `control system Ktorta plurality of cars, inffcombination :a generator on leach car, means for :drivingthe generators, va:pluralityof train-line power conductors on eachpanswitching; means iorfconnecting` the generator on reach car to the power-conductors :on-.that icar, -means responsive to the generator voltage yfor controllirg; pthe .operation 10i -said :switching means, rst. and lsecond additional switching =means on each oar for -connecting'the .train-linepower condoctorsl on afcar tothe conductors onnone orthe other of rthe adjacent cass, .interlocking means on said Anist-.named switchingr means for Icontrolling rthe operation tof said first and second additional switching means, and cross-.connectedinterlocking-means on said Zrst-and second additional :switching .means cooperating with .said nist-named 1 interlocking means inthe controlfof said' rst and-second additional switching means.

.:2. fIn artrain-line control `system` for` a. plurality ofecars, in eombination, .a generator` on each car, means for driving the generators, arplurality of train-line'power conductorsaon each car, switching means 'forconnecting the generatoren-each car `to the powerl conductors on that car, vmeans responsive Lto the generator `v oltage for :controlling .the operation of said switching ameans,

first and second additional switching means on each car for connecting the train-line power conductors on a car to the conductors on one or the other of the adjacent cars, interlocking f, means on said first-named switching means for controlling the operation of said rst and second additional switching means, and cross-,connected interlockingmeans on 'saidrst and-second additional switching means cooperating with said 'li :first-named interlocking means in the control of ,said .first and second additional switching means, said cross-connected interlocking means functioning to prevent one generator from sup- ;plyingrpower toimore than two cars at a time.

I 5 3. In atrain-linecontrol system for a plurality of Acars, in combination, a generator on each car, .means for driving the generators, a plurality of train-line power conductors on each oarjswitching means for connecting the genfy erator on each car to the power conductors on that Lear, a switch;at.each end of reach .oar ,for connecting the train-line power conductors on a car to the conductors on one or theother of the .adjacent cars, and interlocking means 'fac- 1 1 tuated l:by Ysaid I switching 4means for controlling the roperation of i said switches.

4. In; aV train-.liner control vsystem f or a pluralityv ofgcars, in combination, a generator on eachz car, means for'driving the generators,.a.plura1ity of :c train-line power conductors ,oneach car, switching meansfor connecting thegenerator on each car to fthepower:conductors on that-car, means responsive to -the .generator voltage for controlling the operation of said switching means, a

3.1 swtchfateach endfofeach car fornonnecting the train-.linepower conductors on..a carto the conductorson one Olathe other-.of `the adjacent cars, and interlocking means on said..-switching means for. controlling the loperation o f .said switches.

5. `Infa'train-lin'e controlsystemior a-plurality of cars, in combination, ageneratoroneachcar, means lfor driving theI generators, a ,plurality of train-lnelpower conductors on Aeach car, switching means :forv connecting the -zgeneratorV on each car tofthepower conductors-on thatcar, means responsive .to Ythe generator voltage for controlling the operation. ofsaid switching means, a switch at each end of each car for connecting the train-dine.powerconductors on-acar to the .'.o conductorsfon one or the othergof Ythe-adjacent cars, .interlocking means .on said switching means .for Vcontrolling the 4operation of vsaid switches, Vand additional interlocking .means on saidiswitches cooperating with saidrst-named interlocking means in the-control. of said switches. .6. Inatrain-.line control system fora plurality of cars,.in combination, agenerator on each car, means fordriving thegenerators, a pluralityof train-linelpower'conductors on eachzcar, switch- 60 ing means for connecting the generator oneach car to lthe gpowerconductorsv on ythat car, means responsive lto :the generator voltage forcontrolling the operationofsaid switching means, a switch i-at each end i of veach -car 'for connecting 65 thetrain-line power conductorson a car-tothe conductors on one or the other of the-adjacent cars;v interlocking. means. on :said switching. means for controlling theoperation of said switches, and cross-connected .interlocking :means on` said 70 switches for pre-venting both switches-on a oar from being.closed at the Sametime 7. In a train-line control systemior a plurality of fears, inl combination, `a-'generator'oneach car, means lfor-driving thergenerators, aplurality of 7i. train-line vmwen-conductors:on-each car, switch-- ing means for connecting the generator on 'each car to the power conductors on that car, means responsive to the generator voltage for controlling the operation of said switching means, a switch at each end of each car for connecting the train-line power conductors on a car to the conductors on one or the other of the adjacent cars, interlocking means on said switching means for controlling the operation of said switches, and cross-connected interlocking means on said switches for preventing both switches on a car from being closed at the same time thereby preventing one generator from supplying power to more than two cars at a time.

GEORGE R. PURIFOY.

ROBERT E. BURKHART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STA'IES PATENTS Nnmper 

